Sounding wheeled toy



A ril 22, 1952 R. B. WITMYER SOUNDING WHEELED TOY Filed Sept. 15, 1950 F0550 21B. h/n'M VEH Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOUNDING WHEELED TOY Robert B. Witmyer, Brownstown, Pa. 7 Application September 15, 1950, Serial No. 185,108 3 Claims. (01. 45- 78) This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to toys of the sounding type. A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved toy airplane which is simple in construction, which is attractive in appearance, and which provides a sound simulating the noise made by an airplane motor when it is drawn along the ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved toy airplane which is very inexpensive to manufacture, which produces a sound simulating the noise of an airplane motor when the toy is moved along the ground, and simultaneously which vibrates the body of the toy causing the propellers thereof to rotate, and thereby adding to the similarityof the operation of the toy with that of an actual airplane.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a typical embodiment of a toy constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrating the manner in which the toy is drawn along the ground by the user;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the toy airplane illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the segments of the hollow washers employed on the propeller-supporting pin members of the toy airplane of Figures 1 to 5.

Referring to the drawings, the toy is generally designated at l I and comprises an elongated body portion shaped to simulate the fuselage of an airplane and designated at 2. Secured to the body portion [2 are the laterally extending wings I3, l3, and integral with the wings l3 are the respective wing motor portions, shown at M, I4.

Secured in the end of each motor portion M and projecting axially and forwardly therefrom is a propeller-supporting pin I5 having a head H5 at its end. Rotatably'mounted on the pin I5 is a propeller ll, said propeller being positioned on the pin l5 by respective hollow washers mounted on the pin and engaging opposite sides of the propeller H, as. shown. Said hollow washers may comprise opposed conical segments l8, l8, arranged with their base portions in abutment with each other, a plurality of the hollow washers being located between the propeller l1 and the end of the motor element I4, and at least one other hollow washer being located between the propeller I1 and the head I6 of the pm.

Secured to the under side of the fuselage I2 at its rear end is the tail skid l9, and secured to the under side of the fuselage adjacent the wings it are the respective depending strut members 2t, one strut member being located on each side of the fuselage. The strut members 29 are made of spring metal so that they will readily transmit vibrations from the ground-engaging wheels, shown at 2!, journaled to the lower ends of the strut members, to the fuselage l2. Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, it will be seen that a transverse axle pin 22 extends rotatably through each strut member 20, said axle pin being formed at its ends with the head elements 23, 23. Each wheel 2! is mounted on a pin 22, respective washers 24, 24 being provided on opposite sides of the wheel. Mounted on each pin is a coil spring 25 which bears between the head of the pin 23 and the strut member 20, as shown in Figure 5. The spring 25 exerts considerable binding force on the pin 22 with respect to the strut 20, frictionally retarding rotation of the wheel 2| with respect to the strut member. The wheels 2| are formed from elastic material, such as rubber or the like, and the tread portions of the wheels are formed with transverse grooves 26, the walls of said grooves being non-parallel, as shown in Figure 4, and being disposed alternately around the tread of the wheel. If so desired, suitable lock washers may be substituted for the springs 25. Furthermore, the walls of the grooves may be either non-parallel, as shown, or may be parallel.

In operating the toy, the user either pushes the toy or pulls the toy along the ground, as for example, by means of a string attached to the nose of the fuselage [2, whereby the wheels 2| are dragged along the ground. The wheels 2| are retarded by the action of the spring 25 and may be held thereby against rotation or may rotate relatively slowly as compared with the speed of movement of the fuselage I2 as it is dragged. The frictional engagement of the wheels and the washers 24 with the strut members 20 causes said strut members to vibrate as a result of the dragging action of the wheels. The vibration of the strut members 20 produces a sound resembling the sound of an airplane motor, the sound being of substantial intensity inasmuch as the strut members 20 are of substantial area. The vibration of the strut members 20 is transmitted to the fuselage I2, and thence through the wings l3 to the motor portions [4, causing the propellersupporting pins l5 to vibrate. The vibration of the pins I5 is transmitted to the propellers 11, causing said propellers to rotate, inasmuch as only a very small amount of friction is present between the propellers and the apex portions of the hollow washers I8 abutting the opposite sides of the propellers. The combined effect of the sound produced by the vibration and the spinning of the propellers 11 produces an action simulating the operation of an actual aircraft and produces a considerable amount of amusement and interest in the toy.

While a specific embodiment of an improved toy airplane has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A sounding toy of the character described comprising an elongated body shaped to simulate the fuselage of an aircraft and having respective wings secured thereto, a pair of spaced depending resilient struts secured to the under side of the body, respective headed axle pins extending rotatably through the lower ends of said struts, a wheel secured on each axle pin, and a coil spring on each axle pin bearing between the head of said pin and the associated strut, whereby each strut is vibrated responsive to rotation of its wheel when the body is drawn along the ground.

2. A'sounding toy of the character described comprising an elongated body shaped to simulate the fuselage of an aircraft and having respective wings secured thereto, a pair of spaced depending resilient struts secured to the under side of said body, respective headed axle pins extending rotatably through the lower ends of said struts, a wheel secured on each axle pin, and a coil spring on each axle pin bearing between the head of the pin and the associated strut, whereby each strut is vibrated responsive to rotation of its wheel when the body is drawn along the ground, the wheels being formed of elastic material and the treads of the wheels being formed with spaced transverse grooves having nonparallel sides.

3. A sounding toy of the character described comprising an elongated body shaped to simulate the fuselage of an aircraft and having respective wings secured thereto, a pair of spaced depending resilient struts secured to the under side of said body, respective headed axle pins extending rotatably through the lower ends of said struts, a wheel secured on each axle pin, a coil spring on each axle pin bearing between the head of the pin and the associated strut, whereby each strut is vibrated responsive to rotation of its wheel when the body is drawn along the ground, a forwardly projecting headed pin secured to the body, a toy propeller rotatably mounted on said lastnamed pin, and a pair of hollow washers mounted on said last-named pin on opposite sides of and frictionally engaging said propeller, each washer comprising a pair of hollow conical members positioned with their base portions in abutment with each other.

ROBERT B. WITMYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA IE NTS Number Name Date 1,689,010 Cohn Oct. 23, 1928 2,401,459 Cavanaugh June 4, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 505,256 Great Britain May 4, 1939 561,971 Germany Oct. 20, 1932 

